. >>> the united nations general assembly is expected to vote today on whether to give nonmember observer status to palestine. palestinians say they need u.n. recognition of a palestinian state in the west bank in order to get israel back to the negotiation table. meanwhile the u.s. insists direct negotiations with israel. >> path to a two-state solution is through jerusalem and ramallah, not new york. >> israel's prime minister says u.n. recognition of an independent palestinian state would not advance the palestinians' quest for a homeland. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu says palestinians first need to recognize israel as the jewish homeland, declare an end to their conflict and agree to security procedures that protect israel. >>> more talks are in the works on capitol hill in hopes of preventing the u.s. from falling off the "fiscal cliff." treasury secretary tim geithner and a white house aide plan to visit with the four house and senate leaders. they hope to find common ground on how to avert a series of tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to begin in january. >>> p